Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1887-08-05
THE REMEDY.

there has been much trouble in
several counties of the state on
account of officials failing to un-
derstand the laws governing those
who are placed in authority by the
people, or understanding them
have hushed the voice of con-
science, made the law dead let
ter, and ceased to think of the
dear people, whom, they promised
on oath. to faithfully and honestly
serve. The people have unwill-
ingly learned, at a dear expendi-
ture of money and faith in hu-
manity, that politicians are not al
ways what they seem, and that
professions of allegiance to party
do not make honest officials. So
great has been the abuse of Off
cial authority by some, who had
the utmost confidence of the peo-
pie, that their friends have stood
aghast at the revelations, brought
to public notice through investi-
cation. Now the belief is preva-
lent that to make a man dishonest
you have only to give him an Office.
This is an extreme view, and the
voters are largely to blame for
this condition of affairs. In the
past the majority of the offices have
been held by politicians, and he
who could make the loudest pro-
fessions of allegiance to his party,
and say the meanest things about
the opposite party, though often a
mock ct truth, was the one to
whom political favors were grant
ed. In every county seat, or hov-
ering near it, a number of this class
is always found. They have
either held Office or have been lay
ing around for ten, twelve or fif-
teen years, waiting, planning and
scheming to get into official posi-
ton. Those who have held Office
for long time are termed the "old
stagers" and watch for the t1oub-
ling of the political waters, and in
form those who have more recent
ly been crippled by official mania,
when to step into the pool. The
anxiety and expense attached to
watching and waiting makes them
unscrupulous, and when they get
into Office they feel that it is a
sort of religious duty to swindle
the people, SO long as, by a divi.
sion of the spoils with each other,
they can keep their depredations
from public notice. So great is
the hold they get upon public con-
fdence, that those who have to
work for a living, give no thought
to the management of county af-
fairs, but entIust everything into
the hands of these officials who
| have sworn to do their whole duty.
In perfect security they toll on day
after day for the necessaries OF
life, only stopping a moment each
year to wonder what makes the tax
bill SO large. Being honest them
selves, they feel that the smiling
politician who fatters them at
every meeting, cannot be less SO,
and it requires a tremendous
shock to shake the scales from
their eyes, for nothing produces
such stubborn blindness as fat
terry. But the scales have been
| the people are now inquiring for
a remedy. What is the remedy /?
| Observation has shown that,
where younger class ofmen who
knew nothing of political scheming
trickery and knavery have been
elected from the people, on their
sole fitness for the Office, instead
of politicians, their work has been
invariably honest and an investi-
eating committee has had no ter
rors for them or their bondsmen.
The remedy for the wrongs infict-
ed is in the hands of the people,
and it is probable that hereafter
younger men will be elected to
official position, on account of fit
ness, integrity and true manhood,
instead of politicians who have
been holding, or have been laying
around waiting for Office during
the best years of their lives.
SCIENCE, which began its publ
cation five years ago under the
most favorable auspices, has re-